The FAA today proposed a new rule (see link below for full text) that aims to fundamentally change the way small general aviation airplanes are certified, potentially reducing the time required to bring new technology to the market and also cutting costs. The new rule replaces the current prescriptive design requirements in Part 23 with performance-based standards that maintain the same level of safety. The changes aim to "leverage innovation to ensure the highest level of safety is designed and built into small airplanes," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "This proposal would benefit manufacturers, pilots, and the general aviation community as a whole." GA advocates have been lobbying for the rule change for years. The proposal establishes performance- and risk-based divisions for airplanes with a maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers and a maximum takeoff weight of 19,000 pounds.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/faa-proposes-ga-revitalization-rule